“I'd Like To Ask Sister White ...”

Tell Me That Story About Crossing The Mississippi!

In a vision I was shown the state of those brethren who had moved to Waukon, Iowa. I saw that they needed help. As I had been shown their condition, I felt anxious to go. It was a great distance, and in the winter. It was exceedingly difficult and somewhat dangerous a journey, yet I felt urged on, to go to Waukon. It was then good sleighing. Preparations were made to go with two horses and a sleigh, but it rained for twenty-four hours, and the snow was fast disappearing. My husband thought the journey must be given up. My mind could not rest. Brother Hart said to me, “Sister White, what about Waukon?” Said I, “We shall go.” “Yes,” said he, “if the Lord works a miracle.” Many times that night I was at the window watching the weather, and about daybreak there was a change, and it commenced snowing. The next night we were on our way. We held meetings at Green Vale, Illinois, and were there blocked in nearly a week with a severe snowstorm. Thursday we ventured to pursue our journey. Weary, cold, and hungry, we called at a hotel a few miles from the Mississippi River. The next morning, about four o’clock, it commenced raining. We felt urged on, and rode through the rain, while the horses broke through the snow at almost every step. We made many inquiries about crossing the river, but none gave us encouragement that we could cross. The ice was mostly composed of snow, and there lay upon it one foot of water. When we reached the river Brother Hart rose in the sleigh and said, “Is it Iowa, or back to Illinois? We have come to the Red Sea, shall we cross?” We answered, “Go forward, trusting in Israel’s God.” We ventured upon the ice, praying as we went. We were carried safely across, and as we ascended the Iowa bank of the river we united in praising the Lord. A number told us after we crossed, that no amount of money would have tempted them to cross, and that a number had broken in. They could not save their teams, and barely escaped with their lives. We put up at a hotel to rest over the Sabbath. Sunday we continued our journey. I never witnessed so cold weather. The brethren would watch one another to see if they were freezing. And we would often hear, “Brother, your face is freezing, you had better rub the frost out as soon as possible!” “Your ear is freezing!” “Your nose is freezing!” I found my coonskin robe of real service. LASW 117.1

We reached Waukon Wednesday night. The Lord sent us to the place in season to break Satan’s snare, that the captives might be released. ¹¹ LASW 118.1